Collar support



May 25, 1937. B. R. THEOBALD COLLAR I SUPPORT Filed Jan. 23, 1956 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented May 25, 1937 UNITED STATES ATENT ()EHQE 9 Claims.

My invention relates to collar supports, and more particularly to cardboard supports to be inserted into unstarched or semi-starched shirt collars, after laundering.

An important object of the invention is to provide such a support that can utilize lighter weight cardboard and still resist crushing as Well as heavier weight cardboard.

Another object is to provide a collar support of such shape that it can be cut from a sheet of cardboard with the minimum amount of waste.

A further object of my invention is to provide such a support that may be rolled into the collar, and at the same time provide a support which will not have to be folded prior to ins-ertion in the collar.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and ar- 20 rangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description.

In the drawing, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a collar support embodying features of my invention. A shirt with attached collar is shown in broken lines.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a broken View of a sheet of cardboard, 30 showing how my collar support is cut out with the very minimum of waste.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the reference character 4 indicates a shirt that has an attached collar 5. The inside band of the collar is indicated at 6 and the turn-over part of the collar by the numeral 1. Tabs of the collar have been suggested at 8.

In Fig. 3 only one of my collar supports has been shaded, in order to show its plan clearly.

The embodiment of my invention shown in the drawing comprises an elongated body member 9 provided with creases I and II for making bends in the body member as it is inserted inside the collar of a shirt. Said body member provides 45 the stiifened lining for the shirt collar when applied.

It will be noted that the edges l2 and I3 are oblique. These edges are the bottom edges when the support is applied to a shirt. This obliqueness affords means whereby my support, when curved inside a collar, does not elevate the front of the collar above the sides and back, as do all supports heretofore known.

Integral with said body member 9 is a shank I I that carries a head 15, which has wing portions l 6 provided by bends II. The shank tapers from the body 9 to the head 15. The narrowest width 18 is the portion of the shank that is disposed between abutting edges of the collar tabs 8. Greases for bending the portion I 8 of the shank are indicated at [9. At the wider end of the shank is another crease 23 for folding. The shank is widened out at the body 9 to provide more strength.

It will be noted in Fig. 3 that the head i is cut from the normally top side of the body 9, as shown at 2|.

In the use of my support, the wings It of the head F5 are inserted under the tabs 8 of the collar. The wings bend at ii to conform with the curvature of the collar. The shank is then bent at the crease 29, so that the body 9 lies against the shank M. This bending can be done in a sort of rolling motion of the body 9 around the crease 20 as an axis. By continuation of this rolling motion, the body 9 is bent down inside the collar 5 substantially as shown in Fig. 1. On this latter step the shank is bent at 59. Laundry employees can become so adept at inserting the present support in collars that it can be done with one hand in most cases.

When the support is in position: the edges [2 and 13 rest on the shirt inside the collar, the body 9 is bent at H3 and H to conform to the inner curvature of the collar band 6, and the shank, which is substantially as long as the body member 9 is wide, lies against the body and curls over the top of same, as shown in Fig. 2.

The inner edges 22 of the head [5 are oblique, similar to and substantially parallel with the edges [2 and 13 of the body. This shape of head conforms more closely to the inside of the curl of the collar.

While I have referred throughout to the material of my support as cardboard, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be confined to that alone, since other materials might also be used, to wit, fibre, celluloid, and the like.

I am able to use a lighter cardboard and still resist crushing of the collar, because the ends of the body member are substantially vertical by reason of the bends l0 and II, when the support is in position in a collar. This vertical arrangement will also prevent the ends from slipping under the bands of larger collars.

While I have illustrated and described what I now regard as the preferred embodiment of my invention, the construction is, of course, subject to modifications in numerous ways without departing from the spirit of my invention. I, therefore, do not wish to restrict myself to the particular form of construction illustrated and described, but desire to avail myself of all modifications which may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A collar support of the character described, comprising a body member for conforming with the band of a collar, a head member for inserting under the tabs of a collar, and a shank substantially as long as the body member is wide, the shank connecting the two first-mentioned members, lying across the body member, and curling over the top of same, when the support is in position in a collar.

2. A collar support of the character described,

comprising a body member adapted to conform with the inner curve of a collar band, a head member adapted to be inserted under the tabs of a collar, and a shank connecting with thebody member at its bottom, with respect to the collar band, the shank lying across the Width of the body member inside the curvature of same and curling over the top of the body member and then connecting with the head member, when the support is in its normal position in a collar.

3. A-collar support comprising a body member having a normally upper edge with respect to its position in the band of a collar, a head member forinserting under the tabs of a collar, and a shank connecting with the body member below said normally upper edge and connecting with the head member for holding the collar in a neat position, there being a normally upward bend in the shank substantially at the point of connection with the body member.

4. A collar support comprising a body member for insertion Within the band of a collar, a head member for insertion under the tabs of the collar, said members having opposed edges, and a shank connected with the head member and connected with the body member at a point away from the said opposing edge of the body member.

5. A collar support comprising a body member for insertion within the band of a collar, the body member having lateral edges, a head member for insertion under the tabs of the collar, one of said lateral edges when in use being adjacent the head member, and an elongated shank connected with the other of said lateral edges and connected with the head member, the elongated shank being at least as long as the width of the body member.

6. In a collar support, a body member for insertion within the band of a collar, said member having creases diverging outwardly from the normally lower edge toward the normally upper edge of said member, a head for insertion under the tabs of the collar, and a shank connecting the head to the body member.

7. A collar support comprising a body member for insertion within the band of a collar, a head member for insertion under the tabs of the collar, and a shank connecting said members and arranged to extend across the collar band, the shank being bent upwardly adjacent its connection with the body member and being bent downwardly at the portion arranged to cross a collar band, said directions being with respect to the normal position of the support in a collar.

8. A collar support comprising a body member having a normally upper edge with respect to its position in the band of a collar, ahead member for inserting under the tabs of the collar, and a shank connecting with the body member below said normally upper edge and connecting with the head member for holding the collar in a neat position.

9. A collar support comprisinga body member for insertion within the band of a collar, a head member for insertion under the tabs of the collar, said members having opposed edges, and a shank connected with the head member and connected with .the body member at a point away from the said opposing edge of the body member, and folded upon the body member.

BLAINE R. THEOBALD. 

